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Scientists have called for strict ‘no selfie zones’ after a string of accidental deaths.

The largest-ever review of fatalities caused by posing for self-shot photographs documented 259 deaths between October 2011 and November 2017.

Drowning, being hit by a vehicle or suffering a fall the most common causes of ‘selficide’.

Men are far more likely than women to die in such a way. Some 72.5% of victims are male whilst just 27.5% are female.

Writing in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, academics acknowledge that selfies are an important form of ‘self-expression’ but warn that deaths are rising ‘exponentially’.

This is exactly the sort of scenario in which you wouldn’t want to be taking a selfie (Picture: Getty)

Lead author Dr. Agam Bansal, who performed the analysis at the India Institute of Medical Sciences, says: ‘Selfies are themselves not harmful, but the human behaviour that accompanies selfies is dangerous.

‘Individuals need to be educated regarding certain risky behaviours and risky places where selfies should not be taken.

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‘No selfie zones should be declared across many areas, especially near water bodies, mountain peaks, and over tall buildings, to decrease the incidence of selfie-related deaths.’

He also warned: ‘Although our study has enlisted the largest number of selfie deaths and incidents to date, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Many cases are not reported.’

Dr Bansal, who also uses the term ‘selficide’ to describe the deaths, scoured newspaper cuttings from across the world to compile the data.

Almost half of all selfie deaths occurred in the 20–29 year age group followed by 36% of deaths in the 10–19 year age group.

The highest number of deaths has been reported in India – with the state of Goa bringing in official ‘no selfie’ zones in June this year – followed by Russia, the USA, and Pakistan.

Make sure you know what’s around you when taking a selfie (Picture: Getty)

Christopher Inglefield, medical director of the London Bridge Plastic Surgery and Aesthetic Clinic, is a self-confessed ‘Snapchat surgeon’ who documents procedures for his social media channels in a bid to educate patients about what going under the knife really entails.

But Inglefield, who’s also an expert in gender confirmation surgery, said: ‘This research reinforces the huge upsurge in selfie culture in the last decade.

‘And while we should never criticise those who snap safely, the trend does raise some important questions.

‘My message would be to love yourself, not your selfie.’

In June this year British woman Louise Benson, 37, and her partner Michael Kearns, 33, fell 30 metres to their deaths after toppling off a beach wall in Ericeira, Portugal.